Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-26
Paradise in Butte County.


EDS. RECORD UNION: In former letter |
spoke of the adaptability of the soil and
climate of this section to the cultivation of
fruits. Fruits grown here are remarkably
healthy, and hitherto have been free from
insect pests known to other portions of the
State. 1t is only of late that the people
here have begun to plant more fruit trees
than sufficient for family use, but now
there appears to be an opening for SUBJ
stantial and profitable business in fruit.
Below the Paradise plateau. and inter-
vening between it and the lower foothills,
are several ridges alternating with as many
canyons, portions of which, when brought
under cultivation, are admirably adapted
to vineyards. Much of the land on the
ridges is covered with dense growth of
shrub oak and other brush, from the size of
a mere sprout to that of two inches in
diameter This land is of deep soil,
comparatively free from rock, and may be
had almost for the settling upon it. Taken
with the Paradise country, it is well stu
ated to form an irrigatipg district.
To the west, and contiguous to Paradise
is the great canyon of Butte creek. which
stream rises high up in the Sierras, and
flowing southwesterly, makes its exit into
the Sacramento valley at the Rancho Es-
guam, now owned by Senator Stanford.
From its exit, to many miles up into the
hills, its banks, or rather. slopes are dotted
here and there with the abodes of men,
surrounded with small orchards and vine
yards, many of which were built and i'm
proved while their owners were engaged in
mining in the stream or on its banks. AS
the claims were worked, the savings were
used to build up a home and surround it
with comforts, so that when the mine was
exhausted, the little farm became source
of profit sufficient to insure living and
the miner changed his occupation to that
of farming, fruit and stock raising.
About opposite Paradise, but much lower
in altitude, on the west slope of Butte
creek, is the home of John Nichol, one of
the pioneers of Butte county. There is
nothing peculiar about the locality, aside
from the improvement made upon it.
which makes it differ materially from
thousands of acres on either slope of the
stream. His house has all the appoint
ments of comfortable and refined home,
EMPOWERED under lofty fig trees and climb
ing vines, so that he literally sits under his
own vine and fig tree. When you enter
his gate you leave behind you the country
in all its native roughness, just rs you may
see it in any of the canyons that are SO
numerous along the Sierras in Butte
county, and enter tropical pr ridise.
He has fruits from the grape to the
orange. Among his orange trees there is
one thirty years old, of magnificent proper
tons and loaded with delicious fruit.
Flowers and fruits are everywhere met
with in delightful profusion within his
Enclosures. Now, what has been done may
be done again. Thousands OF acres on
either slope of Butte creek are susceptible
of similar cultivation. Here may be cult
waited in great perfection the olive, the
orange, the fig and the grape. knowledge,
taste and energy combined, with little
capital, will transform such country from
an ordinary wild to one of tropical luxu-
rance B. RUSSELL.
Paradise, January % 1887.